Module 6

The American Government

My learning targets

• Examine the structure of the colonial gov-

ernment of the American (AP6KDP- IIb-2)
• Discuss the pacification and co-optation pol-
icies of the American government.
• Describe the system of framework of the
American colonial government.
• Create a poster board of a government
branch that one wants to assume.
• Evaluate the rules of free trade enacted by
the Americans.
• Discuss the impact of free trade.

Name: _____________________________________
Grade and Section: ___________________________

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 Figure This Out!
The US sent commissions to the Philippines to investigate on the conditions of the country and in
order to make recommendations. These also aimed to help the Philippines establish its independent
government. This was because apart from the American’s economic and military interest, the US appar-
ently aimed to prepare the Philippines from independence as well.
U.S COMMISSIONS SENT TO THE PHILIPPINES
Two commissions were sent by the US in the Philippines—the Schurman Commission and the Taft
Commission.
A. The Schurman Commission
On January 20, 1899, President William McKinley tasked the
Schurman Commission or the First Philippine Commission to investi-
gate on the condition of the Philippines. Under the leadership of Dr.
Jacob Schurman, president of the Cornell University in New York
City, the commission reached the Philippines on March 24, 1899.
Despite the commissions objectives of finding out the condi-
tion of the Philippines, it was only able to gather limited information
since the commission interviewed only the well-to-do and educated
Filipinos. While the commission acknowledged the Filipino’s desire
for freedom, the report indicated that the PHILIPPINES WAS NOT
READY FOR INDEPENDENCE. The following are the recommenda-
tions of the Schurman Commission:

 established a legislative branch (Civil Government) of the government with two chambers;
 setting up of provinces and municipalities in an independent government; and
 Implementation of a system of free education in the public schools.
B. Taft Commission
To implement the recommendations of the Shcurman Commission, McKinley created the Taft Com-
mission. The Commission was led by William Howard Taft. The commission paved way to the establish-
ment of a civil government in the Philippines. President William McKinley issued the Magna Carta of the
Philippines. It was stated in the said document that the government of America in the Philippines was for
the Filipinos, not for the Americans.
The Taft Commission benefited the Filipinos. Among its accomplishments were:
1. ratification of a law allotting PHP 2,000,000 for the restoration of the country;
2. establishment of civil service;
3. establishment of the Philippine Constabulary;
4. introduction of the public school system in the country; and
5. establishment of the Bureau of Agriculture and Forestry.
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THE SYSTEM OF COLINIAL GOVERNMENT
The Americans implemented two systems of government in the Philippines—the Military Govern-
ment and the Civil Government.
A. The Military Government
The military government in the Philippines was established August 14, 1898, after the Amercans’
triumph in the Mock Battle of Manila. This government aimed to BRING PEACE to the Philippines and
prepare it for civil government.
A military governor, appointed by the US president, led the military government. The American
holding this position was given: EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE and JUDICIARY POWERS. However, the legisla-
tive and judiciary powers were eventually transferred to the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

In 1899, the Provisional Supreme Court was established

which was headed by a Filipino judge—Cayetano Arellano. He was
also the head judge of the Supreme Court in the Civil Government
in the Philippines. The Military government only lasted for three
years. Wesley Merritt served as the first military governor of the
Philippines. He was succeeded by Elwell Otis from 1898 to 1900
and Arthur MacArthur, from 1900 to 1901.

The Military government also had its shares of accomplishment in the Philippines. Among its accomplish-
ments were:
1. restoration of peace and order;
2. laying down the foundation of the civil regime;
3. establishment of schools with American soldiers as teachers;
4. creation of civil courts and the Supreme Court;
5. holding of the first municipal election in Baliwag, Bulacan on May 7, 1899; and
6. establishment of the local, provincial and city government.

B. Civil Government
By virtue of the Spooner Amednment, the military government in the Philip-
pines was abolished and the US President was given the right to establish a civil
government in the Philippines.
In July 4, 1901, the civil government in the Philippines was inaugurated with
William Howard Taft a the first Civil Governor. The civil government gave the
Filipinos the opportunity for greater participation in the government. Some Filipinos who were appointed to
government positions were Cayetano Arellano as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Gregorio Araneta as
Secretary of Finance and Justice; and Pardo de Tavua, Benito Legarda Sr., and Jose Luzuriaga as members of
the Philippine Commission.
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PACIFYING FILIPINO NATIONALISM
Despite being called a nurturing occupation, the Americans used harsh and strict ways of pacifying
the revolts mounted by Filipinos. To pacify the rebellion against the colonial government of America, the
policies of pacification and cooptation were implemented in the Philippines.
Pacification is the direct cessation (brought to end) to the rebellion against the government. Coopta-
tion was implemented by convincing anyone not to use his or her abilities in opposition of the govern-
ment. This was done by considering the interest of the colonize citizens or by accepting them as part of the
colonial government.
Laws were passed by the Americans to pacify the Filipino rebels. Some of them were the following.
1. Sedition Law - The Philippine Commission passed this law on November 4, 1901. The Sedition Law
prohibited Filipinos from advocating Philippine Independence. This imposed death penalty or long
imprisonment on the many Filipino Nationalists. This law prohibited all activities that would motivate
the people to revolt against the Americans. It also banned activities that contained sedition themes
like holding of stage plays and publication of newspapers and reading materials that are against the
government.
2. Brigandage Act - This law was passed on November 12, 1902. Under this law, all Filipino guerillas and
groups that worked for the Philippine Independence were branded as bandits or thieves, and they
should be punished.
3. Reconcentration Act - Passed on June 1903, this law aimed to corner all the guerillas hiding in fara-
way areas . It also relocated people from the rural areas into overcrowded village so that the rebels
would not be able to get any support or help from people. Those who did not belong to any concen-
tration camps were considered enemies.
4. Flag Law - The Americans prohibited the raising and flying of the Philippine flag anytime and any-
where from 1907 to 1918.
The implementation of these policies brought about hardships in the lives of the Filipinos, both civil-
ians and revolutionaries. Arms and food supply for the guerillas were scarce. This prompted many of them
to surrender and submit to the Americans.

FREE TRADE
The Americans saw the Philippines as a big potential contributor to the economy of America in terms
of products. American traders came and established business in the Philippines.
The Americans restricted trading with other countries. After some time , all Philippine exports were
sent to America. Because of the free trade between these two countries, the economy of the Philippines
became dependent to America.
The benefits derived from free trade were not equal to the countries involved. Any American prod-
ucts could easily enter the Philippines, while only few Philippine products were allowed to enter America
because they set quota for every products coming from the Philippines.

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Name:_______________________________________ Date: __________________________
What I Have Learned
A. Military Government of Civil Government. State whether each situation or changed hap-
pened during the military government of the civil government. Write MG for military gov-
ernment and CG for civil government.
________ 1. Led by Wesley Merritt _________ 2. Established based on the recommen-
dation of the Taft Commission.

________ 3. Abolished by the virtue of the _________ 4. Implemented between 1898 to 1901
Spooner Amendment.

________ 5. Its main objective was to pac- _________ 6. William H. Taft was the first civil gov-
ify the areas that rebelled ernor.
against the Americans.
________ 7. Implemented only July 4, _________ 8. The civil governor had executive and
1901 legislative duties.

_______ 9. Established after the US tri- _________ 10. The Filipinos had more opportunity
umphed in the Mock Battle of to participate in the government.
Manila.
B. Matching Type. Match Column A with Column B.

Column A Column B

________1. The first US commission sent to investigate the situation of A. Brigandage Act
the Philippines. B. Reconcentration Act
________2. Law that implemented zoning of towns with high level of C. Sedition Law
criminal activities D. William Howard Taft
________ 3. Law that prohibited the use of nationalistic flags. E. Flag Law
_________4. Law against incitement of rebellion again the colonial gov- F. Military governor
ernment.
G. Civil Governor
________ 5. Leader of the Taft Commission H. Pacification
_________ 6. Law that considered rebellios Filipinos as threats to peace I. Jacob G. Schurman
and menace to the society
J. Schurman Commission
________ 7. Pacification of rebellion against the government.
K. Cooptation
________ 8 . Encouragement against the use of any one’s abilities to rebel
L. Taft Comission
against or hinder the government.

________ 9. Commission tasked to put into consideration the norms, tra-

ditions and aspirations of the Filipinos in legislation.
________ 10. Title of the leader of a civil government

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 What I Think
Were policies implemented by the US to pacify Filipino nationalism just and fair? Explain
your answer. (10 Points)

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What I Feel
In you own opinion, how can the present government improve its administration of the Philippines and
its citizens? Write a letter to the President of the Philippines expressing your views and suggestions re-
garding some issues of his administration. (20 Points)

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